MERRY CHRISTMAS 2011

Here is a slice of what kept us busy this year:

Steve: Steve turned over his Sunday School teaching duties this summer and someone else is now teaching our  class. He is still vice-chairman of the deacons, coached Rachel’s softball and soccer teams, and was a soccer board member. And this December marks 24 years with the phone co.

Suzanne: Suzanne’s writing career took of this year. In June, she signed a contract with OakTara, a small Christian publisher, and the book, renamed PERIL, released on Nov. 18. You can find it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CBD, and she proudly carries a few with her at all times. She is now working on the sequel, which will come out next year. On a not-so-pleasant note, she had a huge, very painful kidney stone in August and had to have it blasted.

Andrew: Andrew’s first year of college at Missouri Baptist went very well, and he ended the year with straight A’s. Over the summer, he served as an intern for the pastor at Holiday Shores Baptist Church and did a fantastic job preaching his first sermon at the end of the term. This fall, he moved into the dorms and has been adjusting well. He also works part-time as an assistant for the Director of the Christian Studies Dept.

David: David now has his driver’s license and a car. He has joined the Explorers program with the Edwardsville Fire Dept. and learning about being a paramedic, with an eye to possibly work in the medical field after college. Instead of playing rec soccer this year, he played for Collinsville Christian Academy. To be considered “enrolled” at CCA, he took a 9-week course at the school on top of our homeschooling. He also continued working as a referee to earn a little money.

Rachel: Our baby is now in high school! Besides homeschooling, she continued to play soccer and softball this year, and worked as a soccer referee again. She and David continue to skate regularly at the YMCA and attend a home Bible study every week. Rachel is also participating in the AWANA’s Journey program and the science lab co-op again this year, and last spring received an honorable mention in the St. Louis Homeschool Art Festival.

Our Vacation: We finally planned a trip to Washington D.C. with a visit to Williamsburg first. It was great to be able to see all of the monuments up close and personal and visit the Smithsonian Museums. The kids’ favorite, though, was the Spy Museum.

May God bless you in the New Year.

Steve, Suzanne, Andrew, David, and Rachel.